Your gutters protect your roof eaves, foundation, and landscaping from rain runoff damage from your home. It's important to keep your gutters in good repair.

1. Does the Gutter Have Holes?

Holes can develop in gutters for a myriad of reasons, but you will need to find out how extensive the damage is. One or two small holes in gutters that are otherwise in great condition are still cause for repair. A service can simply seal up the hole or replace the section of guttering that has the damage. If there are holes all throughout the gutters, then replacement is a much better option, since so many holes indicate that the gutter is failing.

2. Have the Seams Failed?

If you have seamed gutters, then there will be a silicone sealant applied where each section of gutter meets. This sealant can be reapplied and the gutters repaired if leaks occur at the seam, but often it makes more sense to upgrade to seamless style gutters. Once a seam fails, most repairs tend to be only temporary, so you can save more in the long run by simply upgrading.

3. Are There Any Signs of Rust?

Rust and corrosion are a major concern. If the rust is on the hardware supporting your gutters and not yet on the gutters themselves, you can replace the hardware. Once rust gets on your gutters, though, it is just a matter of time before holes form in the guttering. Generally, rust on the gutters means it is time to start talking with a gutter service about the replacement of your system.

4. Is There a Pitch Problem?

The pitch refers to the amount of slope the gutters have, which allows water to flow downward to the downspout. If the gutters are sagging or not pitched properly, then water collects in the guttering and doesn't drain properly. Pitch can generally be repaired, either by adjusting or replacing the hanging hardware. In some cases, gutter pitch can be affected by damages to your eaves, which means you may need to have your eaves repaired or replaced before the gutter pitch can be addressed.

5. Are the Gutters Sized Appropriately?

Gutters come in two sizes, a standard size and a larger size that is both deeper and wider. For areas where you get large amounts of rainfall in a shorter time, an upgrade to a larger size may be necessary. This is especially true if your gutters frequently overflow and run over even though they are clean and properly installed.

For more information about gutter repair, contact a local repair service.

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